History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 152

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 152

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Under these converging circumstances the project of a new church had its birth. The church took its name-"The Free Christian Church "-partly, it may be, from the attachment of many of its members to the church of their home in the old country, but, more especially, as a declaration of severance from every religious organization which in any way tol- crated slavery. Its seats were not free. It did not fellowship with the neighboring churches by sitting in council with them, or by an exchange of pulpit ser- vices by its ministers with theirs for a number of years. At first the congregation worshipped in the vacant house of the Universalists. In 1849 the meet- ing-house of the Methodists was purchased by Mr. John Smith, removed from Main Street to where it

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now stands, repaired and fitted up within and with- out, a spire and bell added, and, altogether, it made a neat and commodious place of worship. It was dedicated March 9, 1850. The expense was borne by Mr. John Smith, who conveyed the property by deed to the parish, and, in addition, gave the society a permanent fund of five thousand dollars. Some years subsequent to this a parsonage was built near by the house of worship, and given to the society by Messrs. Smith and Dove.

At first the church, not recognizing the neighbor- ing churches, did not settle its ministers in the usual Congregational method, through the medium of a council composed of pastors and delegates from other Congregational Churches. They were employed by the year. In this way the church had, between Feb- ruary 1, 1846, and November 5, 1865, five ministers, who served it from one to six years each. This church, while not in fellowship, was always at peace with its neighbors, and its stated supplies were always in brotherly accord with the pastors of neighboring churches. At the close of the War of the Rebellion all distinctions were obliterated. The next minister called by the church-Rev. James P. Lane-was duly installed, after the Congregational custom, by a council composed of pastors and delegates from neighboring churches, and this practice has continued to the present time.

Rev. James P. Lane was pastor from April 4, 1866, to March 27, 1870.

Rev. Edwin S. Williams from November 29, 1870, to April 24, 1872.

Rev. G. Frederick Wright from May 27, 1872, to September 4, 1881.

The present pastor, Rev. F. Barrows Makepeace, was installed January 12, 1882.

Mr. Lane has since been settled in Bristol, R. I., and in Norton, where he now resides. Mr. Williams has been engaged in ministerial work at the West, in various capacities, and has now the charge of city missionary work in Minneapolis, Minn.

Mr. Wright, on leaving his pastorate here, became professor of New Testament Greek, in the Theologi- cal Department of Oberlin College, where he received his education. He is still there. Mr. Wright has been much interested in scientific studies, especially those pertaining to geology and biology. He has published numerous papers on these and kindred subjects, which have attracted the attention of schol- ars. Since the publication of the Bibliotheca has been removed to Oberlin, he has been its principal editor. He has also published a small treatise enti- tled "The Logic of Christian Evidences," especially designed for the use of the higher schools of learn- ing. He has received the degree of Doctor of Divin- ity.

The church, from a membership in 1846 of forty- four, has increased to three hundred and sixty-nine, and now has the largest membership of any Protestant

church in town, and also the largest Sabbath-school. Its house of worship has been refitted, improved, and made more attractive. With its large financial ability, its increasing and active membership, and full con- gregation, it has the " promise and potency " of future growth and usefulness, surpassing those of the past.

UNION CHURCH, BALLARD VALE .- After some un- successful efforts to establish an Episcopal Church in the Vale, and to unite all denominations in one reli- gious enterprise, a church was organized in 1850, called the "Union Congregational Church." The Rev. Henry S. Greene was its minister from its or- ganization in 1850 to the day of his death, June 11, 1880. Mr. Greene was born in 1807; graduated at Amherst College, 1834; at Andover Theological Seminary, 1837; was thirteen years settled in Lynn- field, before coming to Ballard Vale. He left no children-his only child, a son educated at Amherst College, having died before him. Through his efforts a comfortable place of worship has been erected for the society which he so long served. He also left to the church for a parsonage his residence at the Vale. The society has always been weak, depending upon the Home Missionary Society for aid. Rev. Samuel Bowker is the present pastor.

ST. AUGUSTINE (CATHOLIC) CHURCH .- This church was gathered by the Augustine Fathers of Lawrence in 1852. The first pastor was Rev. James O'Donnell. He was followed in 1862, by Rev. Edward Mullen, O.S.A., and in 1863 by Michael F. Gallagher, O.S.A., by Rev. Ambrose A. Mullen, O.S.A., in 1869, by Rev. Maurice J. Murphy, O.S.A., in the fall of 1876, and by Rev. J. J. Ryan in the fall of 1887. This society worshipped in a house built on Central Street, now unoccupied. With the increasing number of worship- pers it became necessary to provide a larger house for their accommodation, and the present edifice was erected, and consecrated September 2, 1883. The Sab- bath andience here averages not far from six hundred, with a Sabbath-school of oue hundred and seventy. There is a branch society at Ballard Vale, served by Rev. J. J. Ryan, the pastor of the Augustine Church, which has a neat little chapel for its religious purposes. The members of this large society are al- most exclusively of Irish nativity or descent, showing what a marked change has taken place in the nativity and religion of the people during the last half-century. The charitable and beneficent organizations sus- tained by it are " the Young Ladies' Sodality," "the Married Ladies' Sodality," and "the Children of Mercy." It has furnished the church with two priests,-Rev. Daniel D. Regan, pastor of St. John's Church, Mechanicsville, N. Y., and Rev. Timothy H. Regan, assistant pastor at Johnsonville, N. Y. These priests are both sons of John Regan, of Audover, and were educated at the Punchard Free School and Villanova College, Pennsylvania.

MINISTERS. - The following persons, who were either born in Andover South Parish, or resided here

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IHISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

with their parents when children, have become min- ister4. The list is taken largely from that made by Dr. Mooar for the " South Church Manual."

John Ilunt, son of William .graduated 1727

James Chumiller, son of Thomas. .graduated 1728

Samuel Chandler, son of Josiah. .. graduated 1735

Abel Abbot, son of Deacun John. graduated 1737

John Chandler, son of Thomas. .graduated 1743

Nathan Holt, son of Nicholas .graduated 1757

Abjel Foster, 1 wo of Captain Asa .. graduated 1756

David thegood, D. D., son of Captain Isaac. .. graduated 1771

John Abbot,“ son of Captain John. graduated 1784

Robert Gray, suh of Robert .graduated 1786

Peter Holt, son of Deacon Joshna. .graduated 1790

Abiel Abbot, D. D., son of Captain John .. graduated 1792

Jonathan French, D.D. son of Rev. Jonathan ..... gradnated 1798 Thos. Abbot Merrill, D.D., son of Dexron Thomas graduated 1801 John lovejoy Albot,3 son of John Lovejoy. ... graduated 1805

Je shun ('handler, son of Major Abiel. ... graduated 1807

Jacob Holt, son of Dave. ... graduated 1813

Samuel Phillips Newman, son of Deacon Mark ... graduated Ist6 John R. Adams, son of John+, .. graduated 1821

Amos Blanchard, D. D., 6 son of Dencon Amos ...... graduated 1826

Wm. Adams, D. D., 6 son of Principal J. Adams .. graduated 1827 Leonard Woods,7 son of Prof. Leonard Woods .... . graduated 1827

Joshua Emery, son of Joshua graduated 1831

Sereno Timothy Abbott, son of Asa. .. graduated 1833

Summuel Hopkins Emery, sou of Joshua. . graduated 1834

Wilson Ingalls, son of Ezra. . graduated 1836

Daniel Bates Woods, son of Prof. Leonard. .. graduated 1837

Dan el Emerson, son of Prof. Emerson .graduated 1839

Jonathan Edwards, son of Dr. Justin. .graduated 1840

Thomas E. Foster, son of Captain Thomas. .. graduated 1840

Josephi Emer41:, 8 son of Prof. Emerson. .. gnulnated 1841

Charles A. Aiken, D. D., 9 son of Hun. John ... graduated 1846

Samuel Emerson, son of Prof. Emerson. .graduated 1×48 I'mter Smith Byers, son of Ins. (not ordained) ..... graduated 1851 George Moor,10 son of Benjamin ( West Parish) .. graduated 183] Osgood Johnson, sum of Principal Osgood ... ......... graduated 1852 Simun S. Fuller, son of Dr. Enller (Episcopal) .... graduated 1858 John F. Aiken, son of Hon. John. .. graduated 18:8 William Edwnids Park, son of Prof. E. A. Park ... graduated 18G1 Allen C. Barrows, son of Prof. Barrows. .. graduated 1861 John Phelps Taylor, 11 son of Prof. John L ... ..... graduated 1802 Jamca S. Merrill, D.D., son of Rev. James H.

(West Parish)

graduated 1863

Juhn II. Manning, 12 son of Thomas .. ... graduated 1864 David S. Morgan, Andover Theological Seminary .. graduated 1866 E. Winchester Donald, D. D., sou of William

Free Church ).

.graduated 1869

Daniel D. Regan, son of John (Cutholic) .. gradunted 1870

Mosre Stuart Phelps, 13 son of Prof. A. Phelps ...... graduated 1869

1 Representative in the General Court, New Hampshire, president of the State Senate, Chief Justice of Court Common Pleas, Rockingham County, Representative in the Continental Congress, and for ten years In the Congress un ler the present Constitution.

2 Instructor in Phillips Academy, merchant in Portland, professor of the Gir ek at 1 Latin languages in Bowdoin College, treasurer of the

latvian if Harvard College, minister of the First Church, Boston.

. l'rite Hatod Phillips AAcademy.

& Pasto a First Church und Kirk Street Church, Lowell, from 1829 t , - till death, forty-olip years.

Pastor of Molison Square Pre byterian Church, N. Y., president of

:[r br @ Bingoor Thu gg|1 Seminary, and president of Bowdoin

It rt @ cut Linguagem Built College.

195- Patooth fe in New Jersey C Hege, president tm T1 -T'on ce The goal Seminary.

1 Fr fla Malar The et al se Wery.

J'r . 15 Statt tolog Nor hapton

Charles H. Abbott, 14 son of Henry .... ......... graduated 1875 George H. Gutterson,15 son of George ................. graduated 1878 Lawrence Phelps, son of Prof. Austin Phelps.

J. D. Stone, son of Nuhum (Baptist).

CHAPTER CXXXVII.

ANDOVER-(Continued).

EDUCATIONAL.

THE first settlers of the town were for the most part poorly educated. The men could, as a rule, read, write and perform such mathematical calculations as were required in their ordinary business. There were only a few whose education took a much wider range. A large proportion of the women had even less learn- ing than the men. Many of them, in good social standing, could neither read nor write. When there was occasion for their signatures, they made their marks. But there was no lack of desire for a better education on the part of these thus deficient. There is evidence that, trom the first settlement, there was a purpose on the part of the settlers to create schools. They early provided for the education of their chil- dren, so far at least as to have them taught to " Read, Rite and Cypher." The ministers were, to a certain extent, teachers; they fitted lads for Harvard College.

Dames' schools were also early established for the instruction of young children. These were tanght by women who had more education and leisure than their female neighbors, and were usually kept at the homes of the teachers.

The residence of Gov. Bradstreet and his family in the town for a number of years, doubtless, gave an impulse to all these efforts for a better education. The sons of the Governor, fitted at the parsonage for col- lege, and graduated at Harvard, mingling with the people, helped them the better to realize the value of learning. The educated man was the oracle of the town. As men prospered and acquired the means, they sent their sons to college. As early as 1678 the town sent to Harvard a contribution of twelve bushels of corn as "a compliment for ye new building of ye College," showing that the college was an object of interest, and held out aspirations for their children.

In the year 1647, by an act of the Colonial Legis- fature, every township of fifty families was required to support a school in which children should be taught to read and write ; and every town of a hun- dred families was required to maintain a grammar school, in which boys could be fitted for Harvard College. In 1683 the Legislature further enacted that a township of five hundred families should support

14 Chicago Theological Seminary.

16 Andover Theological Seminary, missionary in India.

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two such grammar schools. The instruction in these schools was required to be of such a grade that the pupils fitting for college could "read any classical author into English, and readily speak and make true Latin, and write it in verse as well as prose, and per- fectly decline the paradigms of nouns and verbs in the Greek tongue."

These laws laid a heavy tax upon the people strug- gling to get a living and establish homes, but they seem to have been for the most part cheerfully borne. It is impossible to say when Andover, by its growth, came under these laws. But it is a matter of record that not till 1701 did the town take measures to com- pły with the law requiring a grammar school. In February 3, 1700-1, it was "voted that a conveniant school-house be erected at ye parting of ye ways, by Joseph Wilson's, to be twenty foot long and sixteen foot wide." And further, the selectmen were ordered to employ for the school a suitable master from year to year. This latter order was more easily voted than executed. Suitable masters were scarce. The college graduates were in demand for the ministry. The compensation of teachers was small. But Andover at that time was more fortunate than her neighbors in having a son of her own, a recent graduate of Har- vard, who was fitted for the place and willing to take it. Mr. Dudley Bradstreet, son of Gov. Bradstreet, in 1704 became master of the first grammar school in town. Ile was followed in this office, in quick succession, by forty-one others, whose united services covered eighty-seven years. In this line of gram- mar school masters we find some notable names, among whom are Wm. Symmes, Jr., Samuel Phillips and Eliphalet Pearson. The amount of money appro- priated yearly for the support of the school varied from thirty-five to forty-five pounds, not certainly affording a luxurious living to an ambitious graduate of Harvard.

When the town was divided by act of the General Court, in 1708, into "two distinct precincts," the grammar school was not divided, but, under the same master, was held alternately in each precinct. In 1718 a school-house was erected in the South Precinct " upon the Hill, on the Southwest of the Meeting-House." This being done, an agreement was entered into, between the selectmen and Mr. James Bailey, January 12, 1719, according to which he was "to keep a gramer school for one year follow- ing, for forty-four pounds, and he is to teach children to Read and elder persons to wright and Sifer as far as they are capable for the Time being, according to the Regular methods of such a school, and to keep the School in each precinct for the sª Term of Time, and to begin the schoole about three-quarters of an hour after seven a'clock, and to keep it according to the accustomed manner in the Sheer Towne."

As the population increased in the "outskirts " of the town, there arose a demand for school accommo- dation nearer their places of residence. This led to

sending the master, for a time, into different localities to attend upon his scholars. We have the following account of one Philemon Robbins, who was master in 1729, as narrated by Miss Bailey :

" Philemon Robbins came first to keep a school in Andover, and began his school in ye south end of ye Town, and continued there 3 months, and then went behind the pond in ye first day of December, and continued there until the 25th day of said December, and then Returned to the middle of the Town and was sent to the south end of the towne, and continued there until the Last of January, and then was sent and continued in the middle of the town into ye Last of February next, and then was sent behind the pond in ye 3d day of March, and to continue there fourteen nights, and then ye 16th March was returned to ye middle of ye towne, and continued there nine weeks."

This wandering of the schoolmaster over the town to teach the children reminds us of the custom which once prevailed in the country towns of New Eng- land, for the cobblers and tailoresses to go around among the people, doing the work of their craft in the homes of their patrons.

Regular schools were not established in the out- lying districts before 1755. The schools at first were of a lower grade than the grammar school, teaching little save reading, writing and arithmetic. They were taught in winter by men, in the summer by women.

In 1795 the town was divided into twelve dis- tricts, in each of which a school was sustained from six to eight months of the year. The money for the support of these twelve schools was raised by taxation, as at present. This money was appor- tioned to the schools according to the number of families residing in the district. When this arrange- ment was first made, there were four hundred and one families in the town, and six hundred dollars were raised for their support, or an average of fifty dollars for each school. Two years later the sum raised was eight hundred dollars. When the dis- trict system went into operation the grammar school was discontinued. The winter schools being taught by masters, two-thirds of the money raised for the support of scholars was devoted to the winter schools. This practice of having the winter schools taught by men, in which much the larger por- tion of the money appropriated was expended, pre- vailed for more than half a century. It was then universally thought that female teachers were un- suitable for winter schools, not so much from their lack of knowledge, as from their lack of muscle. The older boys of the district, who, in the summer, were employed on the farm or in the shop, were expected to attend the winter school for three or four months. These boys were supposed to need discipline no less than instruction. The long ferule and the birch were as necessary an outfit for the master as the Arithmetic

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

and the Reader. Hence the committee, in looking for a master, had regard to his physical, no less than his intellectual equipment. In these winter schools, in not a few districts in the State, there used to be continually recurring contests between the big boys and the master for supremacy. Not seldom was it that the boys came off victors, though, as a rule, the birel rod and oaken ruler conquered. When the master was overcome and cast from the door of the school-room into a snow-drift, as was sometimes the case, he usually vacated his office.

The writer has personally known of two such in- stances. As late as 1848, in a district school in a thriving village, which had from the first been under the charge of a master during the winter session, the master was turned out of the school-house and thrown into a snow-drift by the older boys. This was not generally looked upon by the parents as any- thing to be severely reproved. The struggle between master and boys, like hazing in college, being of ancient custom, was treated with sufferance. In the caso referred to, however, a different state of feeling as to this practice having gained influence in the dis- trict, the following winter the district committee-man was persuaded to employ a young lady, who had taught the summer school with marked success, to continue in the same school through the winter ses- sion. When the news of this new departure spread over the district, it produced consternation in some parents and called forth open opposition and threats from others. The teacher was of small stature but full of phuck, richly endowed with good nature, tact and common sense, and withal, abundantly sup- plied with knowledge and mother wit. The protest- ing and indignant parents were toll that the lady teacher would take her place in the school-room at the appointed time, that she was amply qualified to instruct their sons in any branch of learning they might wish to pursue, and that, if they sent their boys to school for the purpose of being flogged, the committee would hire an Irishman to discharge that part of the teacher's duty. The school was success- fully "kept," and from that day to this no master has been en loyed in the district.

The di triet schools in this town were sometimes called "outskirt " schools, sometimes "squadron" schools, and were in session from six to eight months. They were much under the oversight of the minister of the two parishes, who visited them regularly and "catechised " the children. Dr. Ed- wards distinguished himself for special fidelity in thisservice As all the parents belonged to his par- ish this prictive of los, so far from being cause for comp aint, was matter of universal approval and

Within comparatively a short time, great changes have taken place in the public schools of the town. Pho Ifrict system ho been abolished. The schools are graw l into probary, Intermediate, grammar and

high schools, and in all the grades are further divided into classes. Those supported by the town are all taught by ladies. The Punchard Free School, which takes the place of a high school, has a male principal and two female assistants. The employment of teachers and the supervision of the schools have been placed in the hands of a committee chosen by the town. Eight thousand dollars a year are appropriated for the support of schools, besides the income from the Punchard fund. The school buildings are all owned and cared for by the town. They are neat, commodious and comfortable, which could not have been said of some of them under the district system. The gram- mar, and the high or Punchard school buildings, are of brick, large, airy, fitted with all modern appliances for health, convenience, comfort, and for aiding study. The aim is to secure the best teachers, and to continue them in office as long as they give satisfac- tion or desire to remain. There are at present twenty teachers employed in the town schools.

THE PROPRIETORS' FUND .- This fund, as its name implies, is a gift, or appropriation, made by the pro- prietors of the town, successors of the original pro- prietors who purchased the township from the Indian Sagamore, and were confirmed in their title hy a grant from the General Court. This company re- tained its legal existence till all the land included in their purchase and grant had been deeded to indi- viduals, or donated to public uses. In closing up their accounts, previous to dissolution, they found a surplus of money in their treasury amounting to $1749. As this property had come into their hands not for personal advantage, but to be used by them, as trustees, for the public benefit, they decided to de- vote the money to educational purposes in the town. We find on their book of records that at a meeting held September 23, 1801, it was "voted that the money belonging to the proprietors of Andover be equally divided between the two parishes." After more ma- ture deliberation it was subsequently "voted that the said property be divided into two equal parts; the income of the one-half to be applied to the instruction of youth of both sexes in reading, writing and arith- metic in free schools in the South Parish in said An- dover; the other half to be appropriated to the use of the Academy in the North Parish in Andover." At this meeting a committee was appointed to carry the vote into effect. As the matter was finally arranged, a charter was obtained from the General Court creating a self-perpetuating board of trustees for each of the parishes, to hold and use the fund, " in perpetuum," in accordance with the vote of the proprietors. The charter for the South Parish is a lengthy one, going much into details. It is carefully drawn, has six sec- tions, provides for the holding of additional funds by the trustees, and evidently manifests an expectation that their fund will become a nucleus for the gather- ing in of other considerable sums, to be devoted to

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free schooling. They, however, limit the amount to be held by their trustees to a sum that will yield an income of one thousand dollars. The expectation of these early friends of free schooling has not been realized in the manner they anticipated. Not a dol- lar has been added to the original fund, either hy gift or bequest. The trustees of the fund are still in existence, and, preserving the principal intact, they yearly pay over the income to the School Committee, who use it to lengthen ont the schools beyond the time they are supported by the town appropriations.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 152

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1672

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672